Tommy Tucker (born Robert Higginbotham; March 5, 1933 – January 22, 1982)[1] was an American blues singer-songwriter and pianist. He is best known for the 1964 hit song, "Hi-Heel Sneakers", that went to No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and peaked at No. 23 in the UK Singles Chart.[2]
Tucker was born Robert Higginbotham, to Leroy and Mary Higginbotham, the fifth of eleven children, in Springfield, Ohio, United States.[3]
CareerEdit
Tucker released "Hi-Heel Sneakers" in 1964, which was a hit both in the US and the UK.[3] He released an album, also entitled Hi-Heel Sneakers, on Checker Records that same year. His follow-up single, "Long Tall Shorty", was less successful.[3] Musicians that played on his albums and singles included Louisiana Red, Willie Dixon and Donny Hathaway. In the 1970s, he began releasing previously unissued material on the English label Red Lightnin'. This was combined with his work for Big Bear Records, featuring on their American Blues Legends '75 album and tour.[4]
Tucker co-wrote a song with Atlantic Records founder executive Ahmet Ertegun, called "My Girl (I Really Love Her So)". Tucker left the music industry in the late 1960s, taking a position as a real estate agent in New Jersey. He also did freelance writing for a local newspaper in East Orange, New Jersey, writing of the plight and ignorance of black males in America, and the gullibility and exploitation of African Americans in general by the white-dominated media.[citation needed]
DeathEdit
Tucker died in 1982 at the age of 48 at College Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, from inhaling carbon tetrachloride while refinishing the hardwood floors of his home, though his death has been alternatively attributed to food poisoning.[5][6]
DiscographyEdit
SinglesEdit
Year
Title
Label and Cat No
1961
"My Girl I Really Loved Her So"
b/w "Rock and Roll Machine"
Atco 45-6208
1964
"Hi-Heel Sneakers"
b/w "Don't Want 'Cha (Watcha Gonna Do)"
Checker 1067
1964
"Long Tall Shorty"
b/w "Mo' Shorty"
Checker 1075
1965
"Alimony"
b/w "All About Melanie"
Checker 1112
1966
"Chewin' Gum"
b/w "I've Been a Fool"
Checker 1133
1966
"That's Life"
b/w "That's How Much!"
Festival F-704
1967
"I'm Shorty"
b/w "Sitting Home Alone"
Checker 1178
1967
"A Whole Lots of Fun (Before the Weekend is Done)"
b/w "Real True Love (I Ain't Had None Lately)
Checker 1186
AlbumsEdit
1964: Hi-Heel Sneakers (Checker)
1978: Live + Well (Ornament)
1978: Mother Tucker (Red Lightnin')
1982: The Rocks Is My Pillow - The Cold Ground Is My Bed (Red Lightnin')
Appears OnEdit
1975: American Blues Legends '75 (Big Bear)
ReferencesEdit
^"The dead Rock Stars Club : The 1980s". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
^Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 568. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
^"Tommy Tucker". Soulfulkindamusic.net. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
^"Robert Higginbotham, Singer Of Blues and Jazz, Dead at 48". The New York Times. January 25, 1982. Retrieved August 20, 2012. Robert Higginbotham, a blues and jazz singer who performed under the name Tommy Tucker, died Friday at College Hospital in Newark. Mr. Higginbotham, who lived in East Orange, N.J., was 48 years old. ... A native of Springfield, Ohio, he had lived in East Orange for 17 years. He was a licensed real-estate broker and had been an amateur prize fighter as a young man.
tommy, tucker, singer, this, article, about, blues, singer, other, uses, thomas, tucker, disambiguation, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material,. This article is about the blues singer For other uses see Thomas Tucker disambiguation This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Tommy Tucker singer news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message Tommy Tucker born Robert Higginbotham March 5 1933 January 22 1982 1 was an American blues singer songwriter and pianist He is best known for the 1964 hit song Hi Heel Sneakers that went to No 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at No 23 in the UK Singles Chart 2 Tommy TuckerBirth nameRobert HigginbothamBorn 1933 03 05 March 5 1933Springfield Ohio United StatesDiedJanuary 22 1982 1982 01 22 aged 48 Newark New Jersey United StatesGenresBluesOccupation s Singer songwriter pianistInstrument s Piano Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Death 4 Discography 4 1 Singles 4 2 Albums 4 3 Appears On 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditTucker was born Robert Higginbotham to Leroy and Mary Higginbotham the fifth of eleven children in Springfield Ohio United States 3 Career EditTucker released Hi Heel Sneakers in 1964 which was a hit both in the US and the UK 3 He released an album also entitled Hi Heel Sneakers on Checker Records that same year His follow up single Long Tall Shorty was less successful 3 Musicians that played on his albums and singles included Louisiana Red Willie Dixon and Donny Hathaway In the 1970s he began releasing previously unissued material on the English label Red Lightnin This was combined with his work for Big Bear Records featuring on their American Blues Legends 75 album and tour 4 Tucker co wrote a song with Atlantic Records founder executive Ahmet Ertegun called My Girl I Really Love Her So Tucker left the music industry in the late 1960s taking a position as a real estate agent in New Jersey He also did freelance writing for a local newspaper in East Orange New Jersey writing of the plight and ignorance of black males in America and the gullibility and exploitation of African Americans in general by the white dominated media citation needed Death EditTucker died in 1982 at the age of 48 at College Hospital in Newark New Jersey from inhaling carbon tetrachloride while refinishing the hardwood floors of his home though his death has been alternatively attributed to food poisoning 5 6 Discography EditSingles Edit Year Title Label and Cat No1961 My Girl I Really Loved Her So b w Rock and Roll Machine Atco 45 62081964 Hi Heel Sneakers b w Don t Want Cha Watcha Gonna Do Checker 10671964 Long Tall Shorty b w Mo Shorty Checker 10751965 Alimony b w All About Melanie Checker 11121966 Chewin Gum b w I ve Been a Fool Checker 11331966 That s Life b w That s How Much Festival F 7041967 I m Shorty b w Sitting Home Alone Checker 11781967 A Whole Lots of Fun Before the Weekend is Done b w Real True Love I Ain t Had None Lately Checker 1186Albums Edit 1964 Hi Heel Sneakers Checker 1978 Live Well Ornament 1978 Mother Tucker Red Lightnin 1982 The Rocks Is My Pillow The Cold Ground Is My Bed Red Lightnin Appears On Edit 1975 American Blues Legends 75 Big Bear References Edit The dead Rock Stars Club The 1980s Thedeadrockstarsclub com Retrieved December 19 2015 Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 568 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 a b c Colin Larkin ed 1995 The Guinness Who s Who of Blues Second ed Guinness Publishing p 353 ISBN 0 85112 673 1 Simpson Jim 2019 Don t Worry Bout The Bear Brewin Books ISBN 978 1 85858 700 4 Tommy Tucker Soulfulkindamusic net Retrieved June 13 2014 Robert Higginbotham Singer Of Blues and Jazz Dead at 48 The New York Times January 25 1982 Retrieved August 20 2012 Robert Higginbotham a blues and jazz singer who performed under the name Tommy Tucker died Friday at College Hospital in Newark Mr Higginbotham who lived in East Orange N J was 48 years old A native of Springfield Ohio he had lived in East Orange for 17 years He was a licensed real estate broker and had been an amateur prize fighter as a young man External links EditTommy Tucker at AllMusic Dispatch com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tommy Tucker singer amp oldid 1084323146, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
